Evening Links and Thoughts

Busy day here in the office for me, not only are there lots of links to discuss tonight but just lots going on in the world in general. We have a few MLS items up tonight, one USL thought, some USMNT thoughts and thoughts on a Euro-Super League.

By now a lot of you have probably already read this. What should be something that would grab my attention for a full post really doesn’t get me going. The thought of Major League Soccer even considering buying the USL just doesn’t make sense in the least bit. Some see it as a dream for promotion-regulation in the US but before we go down that path I will again share my views that that kind of thing will never pass in the US. You’ll never see owners in New York and LA go for that kind of system, which makes buying teams from the USL all the more stupid. Plus if you think about it the league is already raiding the good USL cities anyways.

The only way it would work if the USL owners took in the same kind of system MLS has right now. A salary cap system that is a single entity. In other words, just don’t count on it.

Most may recall my thoughts on MLS expansion to Ottawa but going to the USL would be a great idea for that city (same with a St. Louis if MLS does fall through). Not only will Canada be without a USL city in a couple years once Vancouver and Montreal go (yes, you’d be kidding yourself by now if you think Montreal isn’t going), it will need a city like Ottawa. I know Canadians love their soccer and that’s why I think Ottawa and the USL are a great fit.

I almost thought this was a joke but the more you think about it this kind of move wouldn’t be terrible for Landon Donovan. When he finishes up with the LA Galaxy his next move should be Mexico. Nearly everyone today thinks Club America would be a good fit. At least he’d be use to playing in the Azteca if that were the case.

This Is American Soccer is a great blog if you don’t already read it on a daily or even weekly basis. Today Adam Spangler has a wonderful photo journal of his trip to Mexico City for last week’s World Cup qualifier.

You have to love that Bill Simmons is starting to be a soccer guy. Normally this guy is a soccer hater but I think he is coming over to the dark side after all. His account on the Mexico trip is one everyone needs to read.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wagner believes we are about 10 years away from a Euro-Super League. Yup, and I’m about three to five years away from cutting a turkey at Thanksgiving with a light saber. Gotta love crazy talk though.

WTF

MLS wouldn't create promotion-relegation. They would create a baseball style minor league system with USL to feed talent into the MLS clubs.

WTF

MLS wouldn’t create promotion-relegation. They would create a baseball style minor league system with USL to feed talent into the MLS clubs.